The USA Water Ski Nationals held in Martinsdale, Texas was HOT! The thermometer reached 100 degrees each of the days of the event. ( Oh...but it was "dry heat!") The warm temperatures didn't curb the enthusiasm of all of the skiers and workers as the water conditions were good each day with no weather related delays. A bit of wind on Saturday did affect some skiers. Numerous Hoosiers were there and seen on the podium. Increased attendance at the event made for 12 hour days for both skiers and workers. The San Marcos River Ranch is a very elite complex of 4 ski lakes and the hospitality was super. (the fire ants were something else!) Fun events included a run-off between Nate Smith and Jon Travers and a Saturday night jump off under the lights in which our own Biester Detty placed 5th. Julie Mishler claimed the Girls 1 National Championship returning the Camelot Ski Team to the days of numerous National Champions. It was also a good Nationals for the Sharkey Clan with Jared winning the Mens 2 Tricks National Championship and Cody placing 2nd in Mens 3. Nate Smith continued his slalom dominance by claiming the Open Mens National Championship.Other podium finishers included Julie Mishler (2nd G1 Overall), Brian Detty (M1 3rd Overall ), Don Bucher (M7 5th Jump & Overall), Megan Lambert (W1 5th Slalom), Jill Smith (W3 2nd Tricks), Rhonda Schmitt (W4 4th Tricks), Cheryl Schmitt (W6 2nd Tricks, Jump, & Overall), and Prissy Edwards (W7 3rd Slalom, 5th Tricks, 2nd Jump, & 3rd Overall). Another notable performances was skied by Dave Jarrett with 3 buoys at the 32off loop in his first National appearance. It was also the Coltin Bucher’s first National appearance. In all 25 Indiana skiers competed at this year’s Nationals.Now that Nationals is over, the scorebooks are wiped clean and scoring for the 2018 season begins so........look ahead and sign up for the next tournament being held on August 26th at Silent Shores.